Blu-ray back-up for SMBs unveiled

Disc, a German optical data storage supplier, has unveiled a Blu-ray based mini-archive for small businesses and home offices.

The Blu-safe, which was released at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover, is being targeted at companies that need to archive e-mails or files onto raw media for compliance purposes. While Blu-ray-based archiving has been available for some time in larger jukebox-type units that can store the tens of terabytes of data, it's not a practical or cost-effective option for businesses that require less storage.

Containing up to 15 Blu-ray discs, the Blu-safe has a single drive and a USB2.0 interface. According to a spokesperson for the unit's distributors Incom, the drive can be swapped when Blu-ray technology advances past its current 50GB-per-disk limit -- the roadmap for Blu-ray is aiming for 400GB per disk.

Disc claims that the Blu-safe uses 80 percent less power than standard hard disks.

"HD-DVD was based on DVD technology and was limited to [a maximum eventual capacity of] 100GB," said the spokesperson. "With Blu-ray they went back to the roots of CD production [making it] more reliable."

The spokesperson added the Blu-safe's price had not yet been finalised, but will be in the region of Â£2,300 (AU$4987). It it not known when the unit will be available in Australia.

The manufacturer claims the Blu-safe can currently hold up to 750GB of data, but this will increase as Blu-ray technology advances.